Maxfield Parrish: The Landscapes

Maxfield Parrish (1870–1966) remains one of America’s most beloved artists, widely known for his incredibly detailed and lavish works. His landscapes are perhaps the least well known of his masterpieces, although they were the closest to his heart. Indeed, in his later years, Parrish dedicated himself almost entirely to landscape scenes, sometimes reworking earlier pieces to remove human figures.
 
In this witty and illuminating book, Parrish expert Alma Gilbert argues persuasively that Parrish’s better-known illustration career was a thirty-five-year detour on his path to achieving his true goal, a dedication to reproducing nature in all its splendor. The 50-plus color plates in this book show how masterfully he achieved that goal, while the text provides fascinating insight into the stories behind these glorious images. Also featured are lovely photos of Parrish’s estate, The Oaks, where he found refuge and inspiration, shots of the artist and his family, and hitherto unpublished correspondence. Together, these elements help sketch in the context surrounding this remarkable man and his extraordinary art. A feast for the senses, this is truly a book for any art lover, whether familiar with Parrish’s marvelous landscapes, or on the brink of a wonderful discovery.

Parrish curator and expert nonpareil Alma Gilbert has created a series of gorgeous books that allow us to see a master painter's works in a new light-from the starling virtuousity of The Masterworks to the intimate luminosity of The Make-Believe World. Her latest offering is a fitting addition to this legacy. Featuring landscapes ranging from the starkly beautiful White Birches in the Snow to the rustic, glowing Sunup, this book celebrates the unique world Parrish created with over 80 color plates, many never before published in a book of this caliber. In addition, Gilbert gives the history behind many of the paintings, drawing upon the artist's life and further illuminating the fascinating mechanics of the creative process. Of interest to Parrish fans, students of landscape painting, and anyone interested in great American art, Maxfield Parrish: The Landscapes, with its oversized format and top-quality printing, is a work of art in its own right.

Alma Gilbert has dedicated the past twenty-five years to the collection, preservation, and admiration of the works of Maxfield Parrish. From the early 1970s to the present, she has bought, owned, and sold over one hundred originals. She estimates that she has exhibited over three hundred works at her California galleries: La Galeria (1972–1985) and the Alma Gilbert Galleries (1987–1996).
 
In 1993, she purchased a portion of Parrish’s New Hampshire estate, The Oaks, where the above photograph was taken.

She has written several books on her favorite artist: The Make Believe World of Maxfield Parrish, two Parrish Poster Books, A Treasury of Parrish in Children’s Literature, The Mechanic Who Loved to Paint, and two editions of Maxfield Parrish: The Masterworks. In the summer of 1998 she opened a museum in Cornish, New Hampshire, dedicated to the works of the artists of the Cornish Colony. The opening exhibit was, of course, A Celebration: The Hundredth Anniversary of Parrish’s Arrival in Cornish.